ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The newly re-elected president of Empire Football Club, Claude Laviscount, has said it is time to rebuild the successful club, starting with its youth development programme.
Laviscount, who defeated her lone challenger, Micah Samuel, 20-6, when elections were held at King George Community Centre last Thursday, said she was happy to have had such publicity going into the elections as it brought a lot of needed attention to the organisation which in turn, encouraged a number of former players and administrators to return.
“Our focus will be on building the youth programme and helping some of these youngsters to make the transition from youth to the First Division because what has happened is that we had actually lost a generation of players because of the lack of that transition and it is that generation that should really be carrying the team,” she said.
Laviscount, the first female president in the history of the club, added that she was also confident going into the elections.
“I always knew I had the support of the membership because I had actually said, following the 2011/12 season, that I wasn’t going to contest re-election and was going to give someone else an opportunity to bring other ideas. But the membership encouraged me to stay on and continue to work in the capacity of president, so I decided to stay; but I wasn’t really worried,” she said.
The rest of the executive includes First Vice President Emanuel Peters, Second Vice President Harry Elvin, Kennedy Greenaway as treasurer, Lennie Quashie as secretary, and Veron “Epilus” Edwards as PRO.
Michael Scotland, Elaine Mellanson, Eustace “Shines” Simon and Clarence “Max” Martin were chosen as floor members.
Empire FC are also looking towards their 50th anniversary reunion celebrations which commence on August 5, 2012 with a thanksgiving service.
The celebrations continue a day later with a J’ouvert troupe taking part in the Carnival festivities; while on August 8, they will host a community project day and football at King George V Grounds.
A reunion banquet will be held at the Grande Royal Antiguan Resort on August 9, while a community celebration will take on August 10.
Football matches on August 11 and a family picnic on August 12 round off the celebrations.
